2018 starts strong in malt . This is going to be his big year, since Valletta , the capital of the country, has become European Capital of Culture , next to the Dutch city of Leeuwarden.
Valletta it has become pretty: months before the event there were architects, artists and craftsmen everywhere renovating, cleaning and getting the city ready for its great culture festival.
And it is that Malta, throughout its history, has been the cradle of cultures from all over. The Phoenicians passed through there, the Arabs (to whom they owe the Semitic root of their language), the Knights of the Order of Saint John, the French and, later, the British, who helped the Maltese people to get rid of the sovereignty Napoleonic.
The great port of Malta, entrance of cultures.
Without a doubt, the most important period in its history was marked by the 268 years in which the Knights transformed the country. It was after the Great Siege of 1565, when after managing to defend against Ottoman attacks, La Valletta was built, with the name of the Grand Master Jean Parisot of La Vallette.
The result of all these influences? An open-air museum and the fact that Valletta has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980 . The Manoel Theater, the delirious Co-Cathedral of San Juan and the Palace of the Grand Master, These are just some of the samples of this unparalleled legacy.
The Palace of the Grand Master.
And after this kind of Maltese history, what do you really know about the country? Its courses to learn English, its beaches, the intense turquoise color of its Blue Lagoon... Yes, but Malta is much more. And that is why this 2018, Valletta has created a project with activities scheduled throughout the year. No more just traveling there in the summer.
More than 400 events spread over more than 140 projects. Music, theater, cinema, art, performance... All this carried out by the Valletta Foundation 2018 , with the idea of making culture more accessible to the general public and separating it from the perception, which is sometimes considered to be somewhat more elitist. “We have created a program accessible to everyone.
It doesn't matter where you come from, whether you are young, old, a child, a parent with children, or if you like rock or classical music. In the Valletta 2018 program you will always find "a plan suited to your tastes", he says Sean Borg, from the Foundation's Marketing team.
Exploring Valletta.
The year of culture has just started with the transformation of four of the most representative squares and fountains of the city , in performance areas in which the Fura dels Baus participated. For the occasion, they have created a mobile app , which, in addition to showing the entire program of the event, is connected with geolocation. For example, if you decide to attend a concert, click on it and it shows you where to buy tickets and a map of how to get there via Google Maps.
Valletta it is the heart of the project, but this one is going to serve to put the whole of Malta back on the map. While all the proposals are born there, other events will revitalize the energy of the rest of the islands and areas of Malta. For the Maltese culture festival, they have also undertaken the restoration of areas such as picturesque Strait Street, one of the most visited in the town, with wonderful sandstone facades, colorfully painted wooden balconies...
The ideal? let yourself go . When we travel we like to experience new cultures and see new things, you know. Some of the most important Maltese events will be The island is what the sea surrounds , a large-scale exhibition that will turn Valletta into an art space, from the perspective of what it means to live on an island, its relationship with the sea and other continents. Also Valletta pageant of the seas which will take place in the harbor area with large boats, swimming races and fireworks at dusk. Valletta 2018, don't let them tell you. Live it for yourself.
Aerial view of Valletta.
WHERE TO SLEEP
Ellul House . Casa Ellul is a dream come true. When you travel, are you more of a small boutique hotel with few rooms and some history within its walls? If the answer is yes, this is your hotel.
in what was a victorian palace , located on a quiet street, but a stone's throw from everything there is to see and do in Valletta, is this hotel delight with a single standard: luxury.
Let's understand luxury as design, details and atmosphere. Casa Ellul combines classicism with baroque influences in its structure and the most current design. Namely, The perfection.
Just eight suites , each one different, with restored mosaics, walls with works of art by local creators, antiques and dream bathtubs . If you can choose, ask for number 7. It is a duplex with a private terrace and jacuzzi, with privileged views over the city's rooftops and the immense dome of the Carmelite Church.
The terrace of Casa Ellul, with a jacuzzi and a chill out area.
WHERE TO EAT
Trabuxu Bistro
What began as the first wine bar of malt , now combines gastronomy and more than 300 references in terms of wines. Just a few months ago, they decided to give a twist to their proposal (more than 15 years old) and add fetish products from all over Europe to the menu. French cheeses such as Comte or Abondance, Guillardeau oysters and homemade pâtés.
Trabuxu Bistro.
Legligin . It's hard to pronounce, we know. Legligin is the Maltese onomatopoeia for our 'glu-glu' or the english slurp, that is, to drain the content of a glass. The name comes in handy because here you can enjoy wine with all of the law.
Chris, his always friendly manager-sommelier, loves wine, and he passes it on to those who visit him. Ideal for testing rarities. The place is small, so make a reservation before you go. The menu changes almost daily, but everyone talks about its fantastic cooked octopus. There must be a reason...
Aaron's Kitchen
Just a few steps from the Old Parliament and Valletta's most famous street, Strait Street , is located this family restaurant of the well-known chef Aaron Degabriel . The plan? Treat yourself to a Mediterranean tribute based on local fish and shellfish, seasonal vegetables, and of course some of the most famous Maltese dishes such as the rabbit in different preparations.
Aaron's Kitchen.